When news broke of Andy Farrell’s appointment as Ireland’s new defence coach, there were two initial reactions.

Leinster have not yet accepted defeat in their bid to extend Kiwi centre Ben Te’o’s stay at the province beyond next summer, despite considerable reported interest in the 28-year old from clubs in England, France and Australia.

Sam Burgess has left Bath with immediate effect.

Sam Burgess is assured of a warm welcome on his return to rugby league as speculation intensifies over his future.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster is convinced Sam Burgess will remain a rugby union player, despite speculation he will return to league rugby after the World Cup. Odds have been shortened on Burgess ending his cross-code adventure after only a year and one bookmaker has stopped taking bets, amid reports he is set to join Leeds Rhinos.

Andy Farrell insists Stuart Lancaster had the final say in England selection meetings in response to claims he was the dominant voice in picking the team.

Stuart Lancaster has accepted his entire England tenure could rest on tomorrow night’s decisive World Cup clash with Australia.

Sam Burgess’ time in Australian rugby league has given him an insight into the mentality the Wallabies will bring to Saturday’s decisive World Cup clash at Twickenham.

It must rank as one of the sweetest wins of Warren Gatland’s chequered Welsh coaching career but I have a strange feeling that Australia could yet prove the biggest beneficiaries of this result.

England 25 Wales 28: As Welsh lock Bradley Davies moved through the Twickenham mixed zone he spotted Wasps team-mate James Haskell mid-interview. Without breaking stride he swiftly yanked the England flanker’s shorts to around his knees, to Haskell’s amusement. It summed up the evening.

From shortly before 8pm tonight the streets from Camden to Carmarthen will be deserted.

Warren Gatland wants rugby to “do the talking” when he sends his Wales team into a World Cup showdown against host nation England tomorrow night.

The pressures on England at this World Cup can hardly be over-egged. Their status as hosts, as founding fathers of the game, and as the country with both the greatest playing resources and finances, guaranteed a level of scrutiny and sense of expectation that was only heightened by their placement in Pool A alongside Wales and Australia.

The omens approaching Wales’ team hotel yesterday weren’t promising.

England have encountered the first major injury problems of their World Cup campaign after it was revealed that Jonathan Joseph and Ben Morgan are doubts for Saturday’s pivotal clash with Wales.

England have named an unchanged starting XV for Friday’s World Cup opener against Fiji at Twickenham.

Steve Neville looks at five backs who could have a breakthrough tournament in England at the World Cup.

England have selected Brad Barritt and Jonathan Joseph as their centre pairing for Saturday’s World Cup warm-up game against Ireland at Twickenham.

For all the trials and tribulations Joe Schmidt experienced in narrowing his World Cup squad down to the requisite 31, at least we have a good idea who will be in his starting XV.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster has admitted to shedding tears over the selection of his 31-man World Cup squad.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster will stand or fall on the decision to drop Danny Cipriani from his final squad of 31 for the World Cup, which will be announced today.

England have selected Luther Burrell and Jonathan Joseph as their centres for Saturday’s World Cup warm-up against France in Paris. 

Anthony Watson scored two tries and Jonny May also crossed as England opened preparations for the World Cup with an edgy 19-14 victory over France at Twickenham.

Ireland squad manager Mick Kearney insists Cian Healy’s recovery from neck surgery is “coming on fine”.

Stuart Lancaster insists Owen Farrell must excel during the World Cup warm-up matches if he is displace George Ford as England’s fly-half.

The three areas where Leinster will be challenged by their English visitors today:

It’s been a season almost devoid of moments to savour for Leinster fans, despite today’s presence in Europe’s last eight, so it is hardly stretching the bounds of reason to suggest that yesterday’s team announcement may rank up there among the best days.

Look in isolation at Leinster’s Rugby Champions Cup quarter-final with Bath at the Aviva Stadium today, and it is tempting to ponder what, if anything, has changed in this tweaked version of Europe’s premier club competition.

Whatever Dominic Ryan’s personal fortunes regarding a place in Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations squad, the Leinster and Irish Wolfhounds back-rower was clear there would be plenty to work on ahead of Saturday’s championship opener in Italy.

’A’ International

Ireland Wolfhounds 9 England Saxons 18

The journey is supposed to end at Twickenham in the World Cup Final on October 31, but it begins in earnest at Musgrave Park.

Stuart Lancaster has pledged to “make it absolutely crystal clear” to Dylan Hartley that any more lapses in discipline could blow England’s RBS 6 Nations chances.

Cian Healy and Sean O’Brien could kick-start their fight for Six Nations fitness in Ireland Wolfhounds’ clash with England Saxons.

Stuart Lancaster has pledged to "make it absolutely crystal clear" to Dylan Hartley that any more lapses in discipline could blow England’s Six Nations chances.

Danny Cipriani and Nick Easter have the chance to reignite their Test careers in England’s 34-man Six Nations training squad, with Sam Burgess also handed World Cup lift-off.

It is a sign of England’s growing maturity that the talk in the gym ahead of their game against New Zealand today has been of ‘Dad Strength’.

Sam Burgess says his high-profile, six-figure switch of rugby codes was based on "the challenge" that will await him — and not next year’s World Cup in England.

Leinster prop Marty Moore will miss Ireland’s autumn Test series after being ruled out of action for 12 weeks.